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The pace of economic growth is expected to moderate through 2020, the American Bankers Association reported Jan. 9, citing data from its Economic Advisory Committee. The forecast shows economic growth at 2.1 percent this year and 1.7 percent in 2020, which would make the current expansion the longest in U.S. history.

Investors interested in New York City commercial real estate can purchase the 1.26-million-square-foot Chrysler Building, Reuters reported Jan. 9. The current owners purchased the Art Deco icon in 2008 for $800 million, and hope to recoup their costs. The building’s occupancy rate is around 80 percent, below the city average.

Vacancy rates in the office sector held steady during the fourth quarter while asking rents increased and absorption was strong, according to analytics firm Reis, MBA NewsLink reported Jan. 10. Construction also was strong, with inventory growing by 10.4 million square feet, up from 8.9 million square feet during the third quarter.

As residential appraisers face new concerns, the Appraisal Institute continues spending significant time and resources on the issues and challenges impacting valuation professionals, according to an article in Valuation magazine’s fourth quarter 2018 issue.

The Appraisal Institute and 15 other organizations submitted a letter Dec. 21 to the Federal Reserve, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency requesting that they hold a public meeting as part of the process to determine whether to increase the residential appraisal threshold from $250,000 to $400,000.

The Senate passed two pieces of legislation Dec. 19 that link the Small Business Administration's appraisal threshold to the threshold for commercial real estate as established by the federal bank regulatory agencies. Identical legislation passed the House in September.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency announced Jan. 4 that it will resume selling and renewing flood insurance policies, reversing its previous ruling that the National Flood Insurance Program couldn’t be renewed due to the government shutdown, HousingWire reported. Congress sought a three-month extension of the program, which FEMA initially rejected.

Stephen S. Wagner, MAI, SRA, AI-GRS, of West Lafayette, Indiana, will begin his one-year term as president of the Appraisal Institute on Jan. 1. The Appraisal Institute is the nation’s largest professional association of real estate appraisers with more than 18,000 professionals in nearly 50 countries.

The Federal Housing Administration on Dec. 14 announced new loan limits for 2019, with most of the country seeing increases. Effective Jan. 1, the new loan limit will increase to $314,827, up from $294,515 this year. In high-cost areas, the new loan limit will increase to $726,525, up from $679,650.
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Financial statements should be used when appraising retail properties to determine the “durability of the current use” as Amazon and e-commerce threaten brick and mortar retail sales, according to a study published this week in The Appraisal Journal.

The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency announced Dec. 4 that they are seeking comment on a proposal to raise the threshold for residential real estate transactions requiring an appraisal from $250,000 to $400,000.

Goldman Sachs sees only a 30 percent chance of a recession by 2020, the opposite of what other economists have been predicting, HousingWire reported Dec. 4. Goldman Sachs noted the biggest concerns focus on tariffs, labor inflation and pressure on margins and higher rates.

Multifamily housing and commercial real estate in large urban areas are the primary beneficiaries of capital raised through Opportunity Zone incentive programs aimed at boosting investment in needy areas, according to the National Council of State Housing Agencies, MarketWatch reported Dec. 3.

The Appraisal Institute on Dec. 4 joined 17 other organizations in strongly opposing the National Credit Union Administration’s proposal to quadruple – from $250,000 to $1 million – the appraisal threshold for non-residential loans. AI said the threshold increase would drastically increase the number of non-residential real estate loans that would not require an appraisal.

The Appraisal Institute and the Land Trust Alliance co-signed a letter Nov. 29 urging congressional leaders to advance the Charitable Conservation Easement Program Integrity Act, which would help maintain the integrity of conservation easement donations by closing an apparent loophole related to abusive syndicated tax shelters.

The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court on Nov. 26 ruled that the prohibition on appraiser bias contained in the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice and the Appraisal Institute’s Code of Ethics and Certification Standard, or the appearance of bias, applies only to individuals and not to an appraiser’s employer.

The nation’s largest professional association of real estate appraisers joined 17 other organizations Monday in saying it “strongly opposed” the National Credit Union Administration’s plan to reduce the number of non-residential real estate loans requiring appraisals.

Goldman Sachs expects the U.S. economy to slow in 2019, CNBC reported Nov. 19. The investment firm anticipates first quarter growth at 2.5 percent, but slowing to just 1.6 percent by the fourth quarter. However, the firm noted that the signs of a pending recession — overheating market and financial imbalances — haven’t materialized.

Commercial and multifamily originations during the third quarter decreased 3 percent from the second quarter, with the greatest declines in the health care and retail sectors, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association, Mortgage Professional America reported Nov 20. Originations increased for multifamily and industrial properties.

The Appraisal Institute on Nov. 20 submitted a letter to Federal Housing Administration Commissioner Brian Montgomery in response to the FHA’s requirement in certain situations of a second appraisal for its Home Equity Conversion Mortgage program, asking that the FHA reevaluate eligibility requirements for placement on the FHA Appraiser Roster.

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve on Nov. 20 released a proposal to increase the threshold at which residential home sales require an appraisal to $400,000 from $250,000.

Banks continued to ease lending standards on both residential and commercial real estate loans in the third quarter but overall demand for those products was weak, according to the Federal Reserve’s Senior Loan Officer Opinion Survey on Bank Lending Practices released Nov. 15, HousingWire reported.
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With a Republican-controlled Senate and a Democrat-controlled House of Representatives, no significant commercial real estate-related legislation is expected to pass, according to a GlobeSt.com analysis reported Nov. 7. Among the issues expected to stall: additional deregulation, further loosening of Dodd-Frank and more tax changes.

The Federal Housing Finance Agency announced Nov. 6 that the 2019 multifamily lending caps for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will remain virtually unchanged at $35 billion each. The caps are based on the FHFA’s estimates of next year’s multifamily originations market, which the agency anticipates will be relatively flat.

Shared workspace provider WeWork has 12.5 million square feet in its portfolio, but experts don’t see it and similar co-working firms as threats to real estate investment trusts because the firms don’t occupy enough space to replace traditional office landlords or long-term tenants, National Real Estate Investor reported Nov. 6.

The Appraisal Institute, the nation’s largest professional association of real estate appraisers, is accepting proposals for presentations at its 2019 Annual Conference, July 22-24, at the Hyatt Regency Denver. The deadline is 5 p.m. CST Dec. 3.

The S&P/Case-Shiller 20-city index released Oct. 31 showed that home price gains have moderated, with Robert Shiller saying the weakening market reminds him of 2006 before the bubble burst, MarketWatch reported. However, Shiller noted that he doesn’t expect a crisis as severe this time.

The Federal Reserve on Oct. 31 unveiled its proposed plan for applying standards to banks with at least $100 billion in assets, ABA Banking Journal reported. The plan involves assessing institutional risk and then grouping banks into one of four newly created categories based on that risk.

Institutional-quality commercial real estate returned 1.67 percent in the third quarter, down from 1.81 percent the previous quarter, and cap rates fell to their lowest level in the index’s history, according to the National Council of Real Estate Investment Fiduciaries Property Index released Nov. 1, MBA NewsLink reported.

Millennials are most likely to purchase a haunted home — provided there are incentives, such as a good price, a desirable neighborhood or a large kitchen, Realtor.com reported Oct. 23. Eighteen percent of people said they would purchase a haunted home without any incentives, while 49 percent said no way, no how.

Lenders say the new Federal Housing Administration rule requiring a second appraisal for HECM loans have had minimal impact, with only about 15 percent of loans being flagged as possibly having an inflated property valuation, HousingWire reported Oct. 23. Lenders noted that they typically receive an answer within 24 hours.

Multifamily lending last year reached a record $285 billion for buildings with five or more units — a 6 percent increase from the previous year, the Mortgage Bankers Association reported Oct. 25 in its annual multifamily lending market report. The top multifamily lenders were Wells Fargo, CBRE Capital Markets and JPMorgan Chase.

Appraisers who value properties subject to eminent domain are likely to find themselves in court, explaining and defending their analysis and opinions, according to a new book published by the Appraisal Institute.

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation on Oct. 16 published answers to frequently asked questions about appraisals and evaluations for real estate transactions that are covered by the interagency appraisal rules.

The effects of rising sea levels are becoming increasingly real to coastal communities and property owners, with homes and commercial properties valued at more than $1 trillion potentially at risk from rising waters by 2100, according to an article in Valuation magazine’s third quarter 2018 issue.
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The likely replacement for the North American Free Trade Agreement is expected to increase the demand for U.S. commercial property, according to a special report from commercial real estate firm CBRE, MBA NewsLink reported Oct. 11. Industrial real estate should most benefit from the new trade agreement.
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Freddie Mac announced Oct. 10 that it will allow up to 12 months of mortgage forbearance for homeowners impacted by Hurricane Michael. The Category 4 storm was the third-most intense Atlantic hurricane ever to make landfall in the United States. Some analysts estimate property damage could cost the insurance industry up to $5 billion.

While the stock market remains volatile and another recession is possible, experts say that real estate likely won’t be the cause this time around, MarketWatch reported Oct. 10. Home prices have seen large gains in the last year, more renters are becoming buyers and builder confidence continues to increase.
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The Federal Housing Administration announced Oct. 1 that its investigation into potential appraisal inflations on reverse mortgage loans found that 37 percent were off by at least 3 percent, HousingWire reported. From Oct. 1, 2018, to Sept. 30, 2019, FHA will require a second appraisal on loans the agency deems to possibly have elevated valuations.

Multifamily investor demand is currently high, but investors could see a change because rent growth went flat in August for the first time in six years due to large amounts of supply under construction, HousingWire reported Oct. 3.

Second quarter space absorption for mall and lifestyle centers is negative with an annual supply growth of 0.6 percent and demand at 0.2 percent, according to analytics firm CoStar, National Real Estate Investor reported Oct. 3.

The Appraisal Institute, the nation’s largest professional association of real estate appraisers, today encouraged home sellers to consider making energy-efficient improvements to their properties and urged potential buyers to seek homes with those features.

The Federal Housing Administration on Sept. 28 said it will require lenders that originate new Home Equity Conversion Mortgages, known as reverse mortgages, to provide a second property appraisal under certain circumstances. The requirement takes effect Oct. 1 and ends Sept. 30, 2019, unless extended.
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Nineteen congressional members submitted a letter Sept. 20 to Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell demanding that the Fed maintain strict capital requirements for large banks, HousingWire reported. The letter is in response to a Fed official who expressed interest in weakening rules due to “unwarranted capital burdens.”

Citing significant risks to taxpayers, the Appraisal Institute on Monday urged the U.S. House of Representatives to turn back legislation that would virtually eliminate appraisal requirements for the Small Business Administration’s two largest loan programs. Votes on two related bills are expected today in the full House.

The risk for mortgage fraud jumped 12.4 percent year-over-year in the second quarter, according to the Mortgage Application Fraud Index released Sept. 13 by analytics firm CoreLogic, HousingWire reported. The index includes data for such fraud indicators as identity, income, occupancy, property, transaction and undisclosed real estate debt.

Home sales through the end of August slowed in some Fed districts due to lower demand and reduced inventories, but commercial sales and leasing showed modest increases, as did lending activity, the Federal Reserve reported Sept. 12 in its latest Beige Book.

Google launched its Environmental Insights Explorer tool Sept. 10 to estimate the carbon footprint of a city’s buildings and all the modes of transportation used by the people living there, Fast Company reported. More than 9,000 cities have agreed to reduce emissions as part of the Paris Agreement, but many have no inventory of emissions.

Farmland prices in the U.S. are holding steady despite the recent trade war with China, according to risk management firm Moody’s Analytics, Commercial Observer reported Sept. 4. Real estate values in the Federal Reserve’s seventh district (where most soybean production occurs) reached a record high of $3,140 per acre in August.

Reps. Jeb Hensarling, R-Texas, and John Delaney, D-Md., released on Sept. 6 a discussion draft bill to reform the government sponsored-enterprises and the housing finance system currently backed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The bill would repeal the GSEs’ charters and adopt a system allowing qualified mortgages to be securitized through Ginnie Mae.

U.S. regulators announced Sept. 4 that they extended by 30 days the public comment period regarding the proposed rewrite of the Volcker Rule, Reuters reported. Comments are due by Oct. 17. The Volcker Rule bans proprietary trading by banks, which have complained that the rule is too complex.

The nation’s largest professional association of real estate appraisers today unveiled an information system that classifies and describes property uses and assists real estate analysts and others with their property use data storage and analysis.

The gap between short-term and long-term borrowing costs is narrowing, which could signal the growing risk of a recession, according to a Federal Reserve study published Aug. 27, Business Insider reported. Some Fed officials believe that the flattening yield curve is a reason to halt additional interest rate increases.

The medical office market remains a hot sector for institutional investors, with building vacancies rising slightly but still at a 10-year low, according to commercial real estate brokerage Marcus & Millichap, Globest.com reported Aug. 30. Developers are on track to deliver an additional 9.9 million square feet this year.

The National Mortgage Settlement between the federal government and 49 states and five of the nation’s largest banks and mortgage servicers has concluded after netting $25 billion in consumer relief and other payments, HousingWire reported Aug. 22. The settlement, announced in February 2012, involved allegations that mortgage documents were being “robo-signed.”

The Federal Housing Finance Agency announced Aug. 21 that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will end their pilot programs for the single-family rental market, HousingWire reported. The government-sponsored enterprises conducted its “test and learn” for a year before determining that the market can function without GSE assistance.

Oregon passed an addendum to its building code that allows timber structures to be built higher than six stories without having to apply for special permission — the first state to OK this type of construction, Curbed reported Aug. 21.

The U.S. Justice Department announced Aug. 14 that Royal Bank of Scotland will pay $4.9 billion to settle claims that it misled investors when underwriting and issuing residential mortgage-backed securities leading up to the housing crisis, HousingWire reported. The penalty is the largest ever imposed by DOJ related to the financial crisis.

Commercial real estate is expected to remain “balanced and stable” despite concerns that the market is nearing the end of its current cycle, according to CRE executives who responded to a survey from nonprofit public policy organization the Real Estate Roundtable, MBA NewsLink reported Aug. 15.

The Appraisal Institute, the nation’s largest professional association of real estate appraisers, today announced it has hired Jim Amorin, MAI, SRA, AI-GRS, of Austin, Texas, as its chief executive officer after a nearly year-long search.

Officials in North Dakota are seeking a temporary appraisal waiver for residential loans up to $500,000, citing a shortage of qualified appraisers, Mortgage Daily reported Aug. 6. The joint request came from Gov. Doug Burgum, the Department of Financial Institutions and the North Dakota Bankers Association.
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Appraisers are no longer required to use form 1004MC, effective immediately, Fannie Mae announced Aug. 7 when releasing its updated Selling Guide. The change was anticipated and is expected to simplify reporting for appraisers and review for lenders. Appraisers still are responsible for analyzing and accurately reporting market conditions.

While the multifamily market currently is strong, a downturn is expected over the next three years, making this a good time for both investors and sellers — depending on the city, according to online marketplace Ten-X, HousingWire reported Aug. 6. Houston is the top city for investors, while Miami is the top city for sellers.

President Trump on July 31 signed legislation that extends the National Flood Insurance Program by four months — until Nov. 30, the White House reported. The extension gives lawmakers a small window to craft a longer-term extension for the program, which is underfunded by about $20 billion.

The Federal Reserve on Aug. 1 said that interest rates would remain unchanged due to strong growth — although a September hike is anticipated, Bloomberg reported. The Fed noted that unemployment is low, and household and business spending is on the rise.

The Federal Housing Finance Agency extended for an additional 60 days the public comment period for its proposed rule on capital requirements for the government-sponsored enterprises, MBA NewsLink reported Aug. 1. The FHFA cited numerous requests for more time from multiple stakeholders as reasons for the extension to Nov. 16.

Rodman Schley, MAI, SRA, of Denver, was elected 2019 vice president of the nation’s largest professional association of real estate appraisers Thursday by its Board of Directors in Nashville, Tennessee.

The office sector could slow next year as construction costs and zoning issues increase and concerns grow over the end of the current real estate cycle, according to real estate services firm Cushman & Wakefield, National Real Estate Investor reported July 24.

Fannie Mae is discontinuing the use of Form 1004MC (Market Conditions), the government-sponsored enterprise announced July 30 at the Appraisal Institute Annual Conference in Nashville, Tennessee. The GSE is expected to officially announce the change when it releases its updated Selling Guide in the coming weeks.

The IRS on July 30 finalized rules for substantiating and reporting cash and noncash charitable deductions, stating that any tax deduction of more than $500,000 requires a qualified appraisal conducted in accordance with generally accepted appraisal standards. The rules take immediate effect.

Craig M. Harrington, SRA, AI-RRS, of Prior Lake, Minnesota; and Leslie P. Sellers, MAI, SRA, AI-GRS, of Clinton, Tennessee, were honored Tuesday with the Appraisal Institute’s Lifetime Achievement Award and Timothy P. Runde, MAI, of San Francisco, was named the recipient of the Outstanding Service Award during the Appraisal Institute Annual Conference in Nashville, Tennessee.

More than 550 real estate professionals from around the world today attended the opening session of the valuation profession’s most important annual event, hosted by the Appraisal Institute, the nation’s largest professional association of real estate appraisers.

The Appraisal Institute on July 20 announced its opposition to proposed federal legislation that would reduce the requirements for appraisals in major Small Business Administration loan programs. AI told Congress that it specifically objects to provisions that would increase the real estate appraisal thresholds for SBA loan programs.

The housing industry isn’t the economic driver it once was and doesn’t have much pull in monetary policy decision making, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell told the House Financial Service Committee July 17 as he delivered the semi-annual monetary policy report, HousingWire reported.

The nation’s largest professional association of real estate appraisers today announced its opposition to proposed federal legislation that would reduce the requirements for appraisals in major Small Business Administration loan programs.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit ruled July 16 that the Federal Housing Finance Agency's leadership structure is unconstitutional, HousingWire reported. The court found that the FHFA is too "isolated," and ruled that its director's possible removal only for cause violates the U.S. Constitution's separation of powers.

The Trump administration on July 10 said the Federal Housing Administration will scale back its use of the False Claims Act so that banks that previously shied away from offering FHA loans due to concerns about violations and settlements are more certain about offering those types of loans, HousingWire reported.

Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner on July 13 signed Public Act 100-0604 (enacted as SB 2617), legislation that amends Appraisal Management Company Registration Act requirements for AMC registration and oversight. It also authorizes the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation to participate in a multistate appraiser licensing and renewal system.

The Appraisal Institute joined 29 real estate industry organizations, representing more than 10 million jobs, today in announcing a ground-breaking collaboration to highlight the diverse career paths within the real estate sector.

Alternative dispute resolution – including negotiation, mediation and arbitration – is a growing area in need of skilled real estate valuation professionals, according to a study published this week in The Appraisal Journal.

Freddie Mac announced June 28 that consumers who purchase a condo or refinance an existing condo mortgage might be eligible for its automated collateral evaluation appraisal waiver. The ACE program, which launched in 2017 for single-family homes, gives eligible borrowers the opportunity to forgo a traditional appraisal.

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf on June 29 signed HB 863, legislation that allows the state’s real estate brokers, associate brokers and salespeople to provide broker price opinions. The law takes effect Aug. 28 and places significant restrictions on those allowed to perform BPOs and limits the situations under which they may be performed.

Fraud and misrepresentation in mortgage loan applications dropped 2.4 percent between April and May, and was down 3.6 percent from the same point last year, according to the Loan Application Defect Index released July 2 by settlement services firm First American Financial Corp., MBA NewsLink reported.​

Hawaii’s climate and landscape are keeping the state’s property values high and are contributing to its developmental and economic growth, according to an article in Valuation magazine’s second quarter 2018 issue.

The Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois (Chancery Division) on June 20 ruled that attorneys who referenced comparable property valuations and market values based on an income approach as part of tax appeal proceedings were simply engaged in the traditional practice of law and not in appraisal practice.

It's getting easier to secure construction loans for commercial real estate as banks are starting to compete for new customers, according to commercial real estate firm CBRE, National Real Estate Investor reported June 19. However, loan amounts are relatively small compared to total development project costs.

Seattle is the top metro for commercial real estate investment while New York is the worst, according to the Metro Investment Rankings Index from real estate advisory firm Situs, MBA NewsLink reported June 21. The index surveyed investors about the price/value of CRE assets for different markets and property types.

The Federal Reserve on June 13 increased interest rates a quarter of a percentage point, indicating it would tolerate inflation above 2 percent and was dropping crisis-era guidance, Reuters reported. Low unemployment and inflation were key factors in the decision.

Ohio Gov. John Kasich on June 14 signed Substitute House Bill 213, legislation that establishes the state's appraisal management company licensing and oversight program and makes minor changes to the state's existing appraiser licensing and certification law.

The U.S. Department of the Treasury and the IRS announced June 13 that they have selected Opportunity Zones in all 50 states and the District of Columbia; the Opportunity Zones program provides federal tax incentives to spur investment in distressed communities. Nearly 35 million people live in the selected zones.

The Appraisal Institute, the nation’s largest professional association of real estate appraisers, today released a guide to complete and use the organization’s “Residential Green and Energy Efficient Addendum.”​

More than half the nation's largest housing markets were overvalued in April, meaning home prices have topped long-term, sustainable levels, according to analytics firm CoreLogic, CNBC reported June 5.

The Federal Housing Finance Agency on May 23 released its 2017 Report to Congress, revealing net income drops for the government-sponsored enterprises, mainly due to one-time tax provision expenses. Freddie Mac annual net income was down 28.2 percent for the year while Fannie Mae was down 79.6 percent.

Mick Mulvaney, acting director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, on June 6 eliminated three CFPB advisory boards, HousingWire reported. Mulvaney disbanded the Consumer Advisory Board, the Community Bank Advisory Council and the Credit Union Advisory Council, as part of an overall agency restructuring.

When market volatility creates problems, real estate appraisers must develop a deeper understanding of the valuation process and a greater ability to handle a wide variety of assignments, according to a new book published by the Appraisal Institute.

Federal regulators on May 29 unveiled plans to rewrite the Volcker Rule in order to simplify parts of the Dodd-Frank Act that ban banks from trading on their own account, Reuters reported. The proposal would ease compliance burdens and clarify which trades qualify for safe harbors.

Secondary markets accounted for 50 percent of all U.S. office transactions last year, due to slowing demand for and oversupply of products in core markets, according to the Investment Outlook report from real estate services firm JLL, National Real Estate Investor reported May 30.

Albuquerque, New Mexico, has the nation's most affordable office lease rates at $15.59 per square foot, according to real estate services firm CBRE, Bizjournal reported May 25. Louisville, Kentucky, and Cleveland rounded out the top three.

The country's next recession is expected to occur between 2019 and 2021, according to a survey of more than 100 real estate experts, analytics firm Pulsenomics reported May 22. The experts cited monetary policy as the "likeliest cause" for the downturn.

Sens. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., and Mark Warner, D-Va., told the Senate Banking Committee May 23 that legislative efforts to end government control of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are dead for now, Bloomberg reported. Corker's and Warner's attempt to write a bill to preserve the government-sponsored enterprises' operations failed to garner enough support.

President Trump on May 24 signed into law S. 2155, legislation that rolls back parts of the Dodd-Frank Act and that includes appraisal revisions, HousingWire reported. The Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief and Consumer Protection Act is intended to bring regulatory relief to the nation's small and mid-sized banks.

The U.S. House of Representatives on May 22 passed bi-partisan legislation that would roll back many post-financial-crisis banking rules found in the Dodd-Frank Act. The White House said President Trump will sign the bill before Memorial Day.

Economic growth is expected to remain at 2.7 percent through the end of the year, but then take a downward turn next year as the fiscal stimulus from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 starts to fade, Fannie Mae reported May 17 in its newest Economic and Housing Outlook.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Federal Housing Administration on May 16 extended by 90 days the foreclosure moratorium for victims of Hurricane Maria, HousingWire reported. The FHA previously requested a 60-day foreclosure suspension on top of its original 180-day freeze.​

The California Court of Appeal, Third Appellate District, certified for publication May 7 its decision in Tindell v. Murphy, which supports appraisers in lawsuits filed by parties who are not intended users of an appraisal. The Appraisal Institute’s Northern California Chapter lobbied for publication so the opinion can be cited in future cases.

Freddie Mac has started extending credit to non-bank mortgage companies to ensure they have access to cash if their home loans default, Bloomberg reported May 7. The new lines of credit have not been publicly announced. Critics worry the move could lead to unfair market advantages for preferred lenders.​

The gap has widened between office rents in tech-dominated markets like Seattle and Boston and those in markets with more traditional tenants, according to the Effective Rent Index released May 8 by real estate services firm Savills Studley, MBA NewsLink reported. To compete, landlords are offering record concessions in some markets.

The Appraisal Institute, the nation’s largest professional association of real estate appraisers, today encouraged homeowners to pay close attention to their property’s landscaping as it could have a major impact on value.

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac won't see reforms this year due to lack of congressional interest, said Steven Mnuchin, secretary of the U.S. Department of the Treasury, during an April 30 television interview, HousingWire reported. Mnuchin said the Federal Housing Finance Agency needs to be chaired by someone who prioritizes reform.

Recently enacted tax reform is expected to boost investor interest in multifamily properties because many of the new policies significantly increase the benefits of renting over buying, according to a May 3 report from real estate services firm CBRE, World Property Journal reported.

The U.S. Department of the Treasury on April 24 reported that its plan to decrease regulatory burdens resulted in the modification or elimination of 100 financial regulations since the last report was released in 2016, HousingWire reported. Treasury noted that only two regulations were categorized as significant.

Data firm CoStar announced plans April 23 to target so-called “freeloaders,” users accessing its database without paying, The Real Deal reported. The firm said it suspects as many as 30,000 individuals are illegally using its commercial real estate database.

Co-working spaces are significantly impacting the U.S. office real estate market, but it’s unclear if the explosive growth they’ve experienced since the Great Recession signals a market disruption or a passing trend, according to an article in Valuation magazine’s first quarter 2018 issue.

The Appraisal Subcommittee unanimously rejected a temporary waiver request from TriStar Bank of Dickson, Tennessee, during a special meeting April 23 in Washington. The Appraisal Institute led industry efforts opposing the bank’s request for a waiver of certification requirements, which would have allowed appraisals to be completed by non-certified appraisers.

Randal Quarles, the Federal Reserve’s vice chairman of supervision, testified April 17 before the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs about regulatory changes that increase banking efficiencies, citing the recent increase in the appraisal threshold for commercial real estate loans, which he said posed no threat to safety and soundness.

Wells Fargo on April 17 agreed to pay a $1 billion fine to settle allegations from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau that it routinely charged homebuyers excessive “rate-lock” fees, Reuters reported. The bank, which also was accused of force-placed auto insurance, agreed to settle without admitting or denying wrongdoing.

Fannie Mae announced April 3 that it will allow lenders to contribute to borrowers' closing costs if the funds are a gift and not part of the down payment. There is no limit on the amount a lender can give to a borrower, provided it does not exceed the total closing cost amount.

Valuation professionals can serve as arbitrators, expert witnesses or consultants during the arbitration process and can provide valuable input from the preliminary hearing to final award, according to a new book published by the Appraisal Institute.

A new working paper produced by the Federal Housing Finance Agency explores how appraisals contracted through appraisal management companies compare to those contracted directly by lenders, DSNews reported March 26. The paper suggests that the appraisals are statistically very similar to each other.​

While President Trump’s tariffs on foreign steel and aluminum have yet to take effect, reports show they already are influencing deal negotiations, bottom lines and construction pricing for commercial real estate, National Real Estate Investor reported March 20.

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation on March 20 approved a final rule that will double the appraisal threshold for commercial real estate transactions. The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System are expected to adopt the rule soon.

The Appraisal Institute, the nation’s largest professional association of real estate appraisers, today announced that registration is open for its 2018 Annual Conference, July 30-Aug. 1, in Nashville, Tennessee.

The North Carolina Supreme Court in an opinion filed March 2 held that real estate brokers may legally testify regarding the fair market value of real property in condemnation cases. The case involved the state's condemnation of approximately two acres of commercial property for a highway construction project.

The Appraisal Institute led nearly three dozen valuation organizations in supporting revisions to a bipartisan Senate bill that passed March 14. The measure, which now goes to the House, rolled back many post-financial-crisis banking rules found in the Dodd-Frank Act.

The Appraisal Institute on March 13 announced its partnership with the Residential Energy Services Network to launch an appraiser portal that allows AI professionals to access data for properties with Home Energy Rating System Index scores.

The Appraisal Institute, the nation’s largest professional association of real estate appraisers, today encouraged homeowners to prioritize outdoor renovation projects when seeking to increase their potential return on investment.

The nation’s largest professional association of real estate appraisers today led nearly three dozen valuation organizations in applauding revisions to a bipartisan Senate bill that would roll back many post-financial-crisis banking rules found in the Dodd-Frank Act.

During testimony before the House Financial Services Committee Feb. 27, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell reiterated his commitment to stay the course on gradual rate hikes, Reuters reported. Powell noted how strong the economy has become, leading to speculation of a possible fourth rate increase this year.

Commercial real estate is in the late stable stage and showing signs of moderate distress, according to the State of the Real Estate Market report released March 1 by real estate advisory firm RCLCO, MBA NewsLink reported. However, the report noted there’s no impending downturn in real estate performance.​

Highly qualified appraisers are able to assist homeowners with appeals of property taxes, which can be a homeowner’s largest annual expense, the nation’s largest professional association of real estate appraisers said today.

Commercial and multifamily originations this year are expected to total around $549 billion, a 3 percent drop from last year, the Mortgage Bankers Association reported Feb. 15. Factors contributing to the decline include rising interest rates and pressure on capitalization rates.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau on Feb. 12 released its five-year strategic plan that states its goal is to “fulfill the Bureau’s statutory responsibilities, but go no further.” The plan draws directly from the Dodd-Frank Act and refocuses the CFPB’s mission as regulating consumer financial products and services under existing federal law.

The Federal Housing Finance Agency on Feb. 6 announced new housing goals for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac for 2018-20. The goals for single-family homes remain largely unchanged, but the goals for multifamily properties call for increased mortgage purchases for properties with affordable units.

The U.S. warned nine lenders that they may be kicked out of a top mortgage program unless they stop rapid refinancing of veterans’ mortgage loans, Bloomberg reported Feb. 8. A probe by Ginnie Mae found that some lenders are enriching themselves through repeated, unnecessary and costly refinancing actions.​

The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals on Jan. 31 ruled that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is constitutionally structured, reversing a 2016 decision in which the court ruled that the CFPB's structure gave the director too much power — more than any other government agency, ABA Banking Journal reported.

The Federal Housing Finance Agency on Jan. 29 released its strategic plan for 2018-22, which calls for safe and sound operation of its regulated entities, ensuring liquidity and accessibility in housing finance and managing its conservatorship of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

Massachusetts topped the list of states with the greatest amount of green, reporting 130 LEED certifications that equate to 4.48 square feet of LEED-certified space per resident, the U.S. Green Building Council reported Jan. 31. New York and Illinois rounded out the top three on the list.

A leaked Jan. 23 memo attributed to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s Acting Director, Mick Mulvaney, said the bureau’s mission going forward will be ending regulation by enforcement and its focus will shift from protecting consumers to protecting the industry, HousingWire reported.

The Supreme Court will hear a case in which Weyerhaeuser Co. is challenging the state of Louisiana’s power to potentially erase $34 million in land value by designating 1,500 privately owned acres of forest land as critical habitat for an endangered frog species, Roll Call reported Jan. 23.

A new Pennsylvania law authorizes the Department of Banking and Securities to mandate that non-bank servicers become licensed to operate in the state, HousingWire reported Jan. 24. Gov. Tom Wolf on Dec. 22 signed SB 751, which requires lenders to be licensed by June 30.

The Senate on Jan. 23 confirmed Jerome Powell as chairman of the Federal Reserve, DSNews reported. Powell will take over from Janet Yellen when her term expires in February. Powell said he supports current Fed policies that call for gradual interest rate increases and has voiced his support of Dodd-Frank.​

U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ decision to rescind Obama-era policy that allowed legalized marijuana to flourish without federal intervention has left investors — including those who launched real estate investment trusts — confused as to official policy and its effect on their portfolio valuations, National Real Estate Investor reported Jan. 12.

The Appraisal Institute's 2018 elected officers discuss the opportunities and challenges facing the real estate valuation profession – and their plans to address these issues – in a wide-ranging article published in Valuation magazine’s fourth quarter 2017 issue.

The Federal Housing Finance Agency announced Nov. 28 that the maximum conforming loans limits for mortgages purchased by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac next year will be $453,100 for most single-unit properties, up from $424,100 this year. The limit is based on the average U.S. home price.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau on Aug. 4 finalized mortgage servicing regulations to ensure borrowers are treated fairly, HousingWire reported. Included in the 900-page final rule are mandates that certain borrowers receive foreclosure protections more than once during the life of the loan and that foreclosure protections cover those inheriting property.

A federal appeals court on July 20 revived a lawsuit filed by the Ohio attorney general that accuses Freddie Mac of defrauding the state’s $87.3 billion pension fund by failing to disclose risk to subprime mortgages, Reuters reported. A lower court had ruled that disclosure shortfalls didn’t prove monetary loss.

Many so called “rough-and-tumble” neighborhoods have bounced back in recent years, as tight inventory and new construction has helped convince homebuyers to consider such neighborhoods, analytics firm RealtyTrac reported July 20 in its best of the “bad” neighborhoods report.

The White House on July 19 announced the Clean Energy Savings for All Initiative, a joint effort from the Environmental Protection Agency and the departments of Energy, Agriculture, Veteran’s Affairs, Housing and Urban Development and Health and Human Services to increase access to solar energy, promote energy efficiency and ensure homeowner access to solar options.